The Doll - Read Online

* Quick Read! - Flash Fiction *

The baby doll and the teddy bear had been placed side by side on the unmade bed. The doll was wearing a tattered dress, once pink, but with grass and mud stains which Ruth’s washing had failed to remove. She had bright red cheeks and oversized red lips coloured in with felt tip pen, and a green squiggle on her forehead. One arm hung loose, half torn from her body. Her hair was an uneven short frizz with blackened ends, as if burnt. One eye was jammed shut...
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The Doll started from an exercise to explore a character through their possessions. This is Courtney's doll, and her scorched hair and felt tip pen lips give us some insight into Courtney's life so far - a life which is about to change.

Read the full story at EveryDayFiction.com.

Saturday Morning - Read Online

The teapot was overfull, and tea slopped out onto the red and white check plastic tablecloth as the serving girl set it down.

“Sorry,” she muttered, embarrassed, “I’ll get a cloth.”

I didn’t say anything. Now I feel annoyed with myself, I should have said it was ok, smiled at her. Actually I was just shocked by her apology. How could she say “sorry” to me? I was the one who should apologize.
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Every week she sits at the same cafe table with a crossword she never completes - what draws her back, week after week?

Read the full story at NFTU.

Coming Soon - Saturday Morning

Rachel J Bailey's Saturday Morning is due to be published on NFTU in January 2013.

Every Saturday she sits at the same café table, alone, a crossword laid out over the red and white check plastic tablecloth. What draws her back week after week?

Find out in the new year.

Red Sand - Read Online

"The creature writhed, emitting a squeal. Its wings opened, flickering red and gold in the light of the lantern, the pattern of bones visible through the scaly skin. Flapping frantically it rose, desperate to escape the red hot lance pointing towards it, already tipped with blood"
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Timfana's father feels she's destined to train as a dragon flier - but does Timfana have other ideas?

See full story on Mirror Dance

Ruins - Read Online

“'Pow, pow, pow!'

Kayla watched her younger brother though the stone doorway of the tiny tower. Sunlight streamed through a vertical slit in the stone, illuminating the dead leaves on the floor and an abandoned crisp packet. The wind whipped her hair across her face and she stepped inside..."
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Past meets present day in a ruined castle.

See full story on withpaintedwords.com

Chain of Hearts - Read Online

"Maddie closed her eyes as she pulled her locker open. The metal handle was cold, her hands still chilled after walking from the bus stop. Please, she thought. Just one.

"The classroom was empty. Maddie had caught the early bus to do a couple of things before school—and to perform this ritual. Just one, she repeated, as she opened her eyes..."
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A topical piece for Valentine's month - but it's not all hearts and flowers.

See full story on withpaintedwords.com

Red Sand - Coming Soon

Rachel J Bailey's Red Sand is due to be published in the Autumn 2012 edition of MirrorDance.

Timfana's father feels she's destined to train as a dragon flier - but does Timfana have other ideas?

Find out more this autumn.